(CNN) -- NASA has chosen as its 1999 NASA Software of the Year two innovative programs developed at NASA centers: Genoa, a failure-analysis software with unique predictive capabilities, and Remote Agent, which has been used to control NASA's Deep Space 1 mission.

Genoa simulates and predicts aging and failure in all sorts of structural materials, including high-tech alloys and ceramics used in airplanes, cars, engines and bridges. Genoa was submitted by the NASA Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field in Cleveland, Ohio.

The second winner, Remote Agent, is the first software package used to autonomously control a spacecraft. NASA scientists gave the software package primary command of the Deep Space 1 spacecraft for three days in May. The software detected, diagnosed and fixed problems, showing that it can make decisions to keep a mission on track.

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Mississippi Space Services wins NASA contract

(CNN) -- Mississippi Space Services, a joint venture between Computer Sciences Corp. and The IT Group Inc., Tuesday said it was awarded a contract worth up to $325 million over seven years to provide facility operating services at NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center.

The performance-based contract for the services at the Mississippi space center is valued at $135 million over three years and can be extended for four one-year option periods, IT Group said.

The Stennis Space Center, one of 10 NASA field centers, tests large rocket propulsion systems for the space shuttle and future generations of launch vehicles. The space center also is engaged in research and development programs involving space, oceans and the Earth.

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Reuters contributed to this report.

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